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NCERT · Class 10 · English

Chapter 2: Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom A Tiger in the Zoo

Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.

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Thinking about the Poem (

Textbook page 30-31 · 4 questions
Q1Written answer

Read the poem again, and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.

(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.

(ii) Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.

Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.

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(i)

In the Cage In the Wild
Stalks Lurking in shadow
Few steps of his cage Sliding through long grass
Quiet rage Snarling around houses
Locked in concrete cell Baring his white fangs, his claws
Stalking the length of his cage Terrorising the village
Ignoring visitors
Stares with his brilliant eyes at the brilliant stars

(ii)

Cage Wild
Few steps of his cage Shadow
Locked Water hole
Concrete cell Long grass
Behind bars Plump deer
Visitors Houses at the jungle’s edge
Patrolling cars Village
Q2Written answer

Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:

(i) On pads of velvet quiet,

In his quiet rage.

(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes

At the brilliant stars.

What do you think is the effect of this repetition?

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This repetition is used by the poet to create a poetic effect to increase the intensity of the tiger’s rage and his silent helplessness from the concrete cell of the cage. ‘Velvet quiet’ refers to the velvet pads of the tiger which are quiet and unable to run or leap. The tiger could do nothing but just walk around the limited space of his cage. The use of ‘quiet rage’ signifies the anger and ferocious nature of the tiger that is building up inside him as he wants to run out freely into the forest and attack a deer. The tiger’s rage is quiet as he is locked inside the cage and is helpless. The repetition of ‘quiet’ has given a lyrical beauty to the poem. Similarly, the use of the term ‘brilliant’ for both the tiger’s eyes and the stars points to the majestic nature of both. The tiger stares at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes as he dreams about how he could have led a beautiful, free and pleasing life in the forest. Thus, the repetition creates a wonderful rhythmic effect and gives a kind of magnificence to the lines.

Q3Written answer

Read the following two poems — one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss:

Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?

The Tiger

The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.

Then he thinks.

It would be nice not to be behind bars all

The time

Because they spoil my view

I wish I were wild, not on show.

But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,

But if I were wild, food might poison me,

But if I were wild, water might drown me.

Then he stops thinking

And…

The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.

PETER NIBLETT

The Panther

His vision, from the constantly passing bars,

has grown so weary that it cannot hold

anything else. It seems to him there are

a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.

As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,

the movement of his powerful soft strides

is like a ritual dance around a centre

in which a mighty will stands paralysed.

Only at times, the curtain of the pupils

lifts, quietly. An image enters in,

rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,

plunges into the heart and is gone.

RAINER MARIA RILKE

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A zoo is a place where several species of animals are kept. Some of these animals are endangered or on the verge of extinction. Likewise, even endangered tigers and lions are not safe in the forest due to poaching for illegal trading. Therefore, zoos are necessary for the conservation and protection of such species. That way, zoos are a safe haven for animals, and the public should be educated about the importance of wild animals and their key role in maintaining the ecological balance in the environment. Some other alternatives to zoos could be wildlife sanctuaries, forest reserves,  national parks, etc. These options will not only protect or conserve these species but also provide these animals with a habitat in the midst of nature.

Q4Written answer

Take a point of view for or against zoos, or even consider both points of view and write a couple of paragraphs or speak about this topic for a couple of minutes in class.

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Activity to be done by yourself.

You can download these NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English in PDF format, through the links provided below. Given below are some brief descriptions of the story and poem included under NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 2.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (Prose)

This story is an extract from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”, where he mentions the historic occasion of his inauguration as South Africa’s first Black President, and his thoughts on freedom. Mandela always believed that he had an obligation towards his family and his people. In this piece, he shared a lot of thoughts about how people of colour were mistreated, and he wished equality for everyone, irrespective of caste, colour or creed. He always thought of placing his people and country above all obligations and did not want to stick to the customs of his tribe. He felt every person has the right to achieve political emancipation, and he pledged to liberate all his people from deprivation, the bondage of poverty, gender and other forms of discrimination.

A Tiger in the Zoo (Poem)

In this poem,  the poet Leslie Norris draws a contrasting distinction between a tiger trapped in a zoo and a tiger living in its natural habitat. He clearly mentions how a tiger moves freely in the jungle, compared to the caged tiger moving back and forth within the limited space in a zoo. Class 10 students can understand the tiger’s description as provided by the poet, visualise the tiger’s plight while in a zoo, and understand how it yearns for a free life in a jungle.